Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus comprising a base means having slot means therein; at least two panels disposed in crossing relation to each other extending generally normal to the base means and having tab means inserting through the slot means, at least some of which tab means are themselves slotted below the level of the base means with all said tab slots being inwardly directed toward the axis of said crossed panels; locking means disposed in said tab slots abutting the underside of said base means; and alignment means disposed centrally on the end of one of said panels opposite to said base means receiving the end of the other of said panels therein and aligning both panels in predetermined fixed relationship to each other and to said base. A space may be provided in one or both panels to hold and/or maintain a display item, preferably in apparent suspension above the base means.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Paul Blum Stamford, Conn.

[211 App]. No. 8,575

[22] Filed Feb. 4, 1970 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 [73] Assignee Paul Blum Elmsford, N .Y.

[54] DISPLAY APPARATUS 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

3.469.335 9/1969 Leigh 40/l24.l

Primary Examiner- Lawrence Charles Assistant E.raminerWenceslao J. Contreras Auorne v-Burgess, Dinklage and Sprung ABSTRACT: A display apparatus comprising a base means having slot means therein; at least two panels disposed in crossing relation to each other extending generally normal to the base means and having tab means inserting through the slot means, at least some of which tab means are themselves slotted below the level of the base means with all said tab slots being inwardly directed toward the axis of said crossed panels; locking means disposed in said tab slots abutting the underside of said base means; and alignment means disposed centrally on the end of one of said panels opposite to said base means receiving the end of the other of said panels therein and aligning both panels in predetermined fixed relationship to each other and to said base. A space may be provided in one or both panels to hold and/or maintain a display item, preferably in apparent suspension above the base means.

PATENTEU JUL27 I97;

ws llwllnll I'llll' llI'IIl I I INVENTCJ-P PAUL BLUM B r W, f-

ORNEYS DISPLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to displays. it more particularly refers to an apparatus especially designed to hold and display an article and to advertise such.

This invention will be best understood with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view ofone form of display according to this invention looking down on such from an elevated frontal position; i

FIG. 2 is an exploded view ofthe four separate parts which make up the display of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the display ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the display of HG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the parts which make up a modified display according to this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top or plan view of the display assembled from the parts shown in FIG. 5.

In general, it can be said that the display apparatus'accord ing to this invention has a base with slots therein; at least two upright panels with slotted tabs at one end thereof; a lock means sized to the tab slots; and an upper alignment means to maintain the ends of the upright panels opposite to the base in their predetermined, preferably symmetrical, position. It is considered possible that the panels and/or the base may have advertising or other indicia imprinted or mounted thereon. Further, one or both panels and/or the base means preferably has means defining a space suitable for supporting and displaying such item.

In its most preferred form, the base is rectangularwith equal or unequal sides, the base slots are disposed on the diagonals of the rectangle, the upright panels each have generally centrally disposed means defining a hole of predetermined shape therein and are longitudinally slit from one end ,thereof generally centrally to said hole. Where there are two upright panels, the slits are from opposite ends in each so that the panels can be crossed" along the base rectangle diagonals. in this manner, the corresponding holes of the crossed panels can be made to supplement each to form a three-dimentional hole" suitable for holding an object being displayed in the apparatus, The upper alignment means'may be as simple as four small beads disposed two on each opposite face of one of the upright panels. These beads should be so spaced as to accommodate the thickness of the other panel therebetween. This upper alignment means may be a Zshaped clip so sized that it holds the two panels in appropriate predetermined alignment. The upper alignment means may be permanently mounted on one of the upright "panel s, suitably the panel whose longitudinal slit extends from the base means directed end thereof, or it may be a'separate part individually assembled with the other parts hereof.

The longitudinal slits in the upright panels and the slots in the base means are suitably of sufficient width to accommodate the thickness of the panels. The widths of the tab slots is sufficient to accommodate the locking means. The locking means suitably has tapered tongues for insertion into the tab slots adjacent and bearing against the underside of the base means. The upright panel tabs are so constructed that the slots therein extend from within the thickness of the base means to w some predetermined distance below such so that the tapered are generally available, all are suited to use in this invention as I use in displays in general, and in the display of this invention superior and outstanding.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4 thereof, one embodiment of this invention is shown with a square base. The apparatus consists of a base 1 having eight slots 2 and 3 therein; two upright panels 4 and 5 each of which is shown to have two tabs 6 and two tabs 7 with slots 8 and a longitudinal slit 9 and 10 respectively as well as holes 11 and 12 respectively; an upper alignment means 13 which in this case consists of four small beads 14, l5, l6 and 17; and a locking means 18 having four tongues 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are tapered, as well as handle means 23 and stop means 24.

Referring now to the modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the display apparatus there contains a base 30 having four slots means 31 therein; two upright panels 32 and 33; an upper alignment means 34 having a horizontal slot 35 and two vertical slots 36 and 37; and a lock means 38 with two tapered tongues 39 and a handle 40. The upright panel 32 has a longitudinal slit 41 and the upright panel 33 has a longitudinal slit 42. The horizontal slot 35 of the alignment means 34 fits onto the upper end of the upright panel 33 while the slit 4! fits around the alignment means and the panel 32 fits nicely into the slots 36 and 37 as shown specifically in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the holes 43 and 44 in the upright panels 32 and 33 respectively are shown as round which makes their assembled composite shape spherical or toroidal.

The locking means 18 or 38 can be permanently mounted onto the underside of the base means but if it is so mounted it must be axially mounted and rotatable about the axis so that it can insert its tongues into the tab slots and lock such in desired position.

The apparatus of this invention is suitably assembled by first inserting the two upright panels into crossing relation by inserting one longitudinal slit into the other longitudinal slit (whereby starting at the base directed end of one upright panel and the opposite end of the other panel) and forcing one panel along the other until two panels are fully intersecting. The item being displayed is suitably inserted into the apertures of the panels whereupon the upper alignment meansis integrated with the two upright panels to hold their relative alignment with each other. The assembled upright panels and upper alignment means are then inserted, tabs first, into the slots of the base. The base-panel assembly is then inverted, the locking means is inserted into the tab slots and twisted to fit the tongue means between the tab slots and the underside of the base means whereby locking the entire assembly, preferably with the article displayed, relatively permanently fixed in place.

Note should be taken of the corner slots 6 located in the underside of the base. These are the preferred form of this invention and facilitate the stacking of displays one on top of the other to form a multiple display. This multiple display assembly fits the underside of the base of a fully assembled display on top of and interlocking with the top of the upright panels 4 and 5 of another display with the top corners of these upright panels interlocking with the slots 6.

The overall size and relative dimensions of the individual parts are in no way critical to the practice of this invention. The apparatus may be any size desired.

What I claim is:

1. A display apparatus comprising a base member having prepositioned slots therein; at least two upright panels having longitudinal slits therein and slotted tabs on one end thereof; an upper alignment means; and a locking means; wherein said upright panels are interlocked together with each other to form an interlocked assembly with said upper alignment means holding said upright panels in predetermined fixed position at the end thereof disposed away from said base means, wherein said slotted tabs are inserted through the base means slots, and wherein the locking means is inserted in the tab slots,juxtaposed the underside of said base means.

2. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal slits are about equal in width to the thickness of said upright panels, are aligned in both panels with each other and are disposed at opposite ends thereof.

3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means has at least two tapered tongues having a minimum thickness less than the assembled thickness of said tab slots and a maximum thickness greater than the assembled thickness of said tab slots.

4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upright panels have apertures therein.

5. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 4. wherein said apertures are aligned with and compliment each other.

6. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base means is rectangular and wherein said base slots are aligned on the diagonals of said rectangle.

7. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper alignment means is a Z-shaped member having a horizontal slot adapted to receive one of said upright panels and wherein the opposite walls of the longitudinal slit of the other upright panel are adapted to be received by the arms of said 2- member.

8. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said upright panels has two tabs each of which h'as'slots directed toward each other, and wherein said locking means has four tongues, one for each tab slot. 

1. A display apparatus comprising a base member having prepositioned slots therein; at least two upright panels having longitudinal slits therein and slotted tabs on one end thereof; an upper alignment means; and a locking means; wherein said upright panels are interlocked together with each other to form an interlocked assembly with said upper alignment means holding said upright panels in predetermined fixed position at the end thereof disposed away from said base means, wherein said slotted tabs are inserted through the base means slots, and wherein the locking means is inserted in the tab slots, juxtaposed the underside of said base means.
 2. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal slits are about equal in width to the thickness of said upright panels, are aligned in both panels with each other and are disposed at opposite ends thereof.
 3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means has at least two tapered tongues having a minimum thickness less than the assembled thickness of said tab slots and a maximum thickness greater than the assembled thickness of said tab slots.
 4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upright panels have apertures therein.
 5. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said apertures are aligned with and compliment each other.
 6. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base means is rectangular and wherein said base slots are aligned on the diagonals of said rectangle.
 7. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper alignment means is a Z-shaped member having a horizontal slot adapted to receive one of said upright panels and wherein the opposite walls of the longitudinal slit of the other upright panel are adapted to be received by the arms of said Z- member.
 8. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said upright panels has two tabs each of which has slots directed toward each other, and wherein said locking means has four tongues, one for each tab slot. 